Manufacture of metal dies and similar articles



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. P. OHAMPNBY.

MANUFACTURE OF METAL DIES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES. No. 281,970. Patented July 24, 1883.

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' G. P. OHAMPNEY.

MANUFACTURE OF METAL DIES-AND SIMILAR ARTICLES. No. 281,970. Patented July 24, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. CHAMPNEY, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MANUFACTURE OF METAL DIES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,970, dated July 24, 1883.

Application filed April 20, 1883. (No model.) Patented in Belgium April 7, 1882, No. 57.520,- in France July 15. 1852, No. 150,ll5, andin Germany July 19, 1882, No. 21,043.

\ To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. CHAMPNEY, of Taunton, Massachusetts, United States of America, now residing in London, England, a citizen of the United States aforesaid, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Metal Dies and Similar Articles, (for a portion of which I have obtained a patent in Belgium, No. 57,550, dated April 7, 1882, and Emil Picard has obtained a patent in France, No. 150,115, dated July 15, 1882,. and a patent in Germany, No. 21,043, dated July 19, 1882,) of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to the manufacture of steel or other metal dies and similar articles, and is an improvement upon the method and device for manufacturing dies forming the subj cot-matter of United States Patent No. 240. 887,

granted to me on the 3d day of May, 1881.

In practicing my invention I proceed as follows-that is to say, I employ the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan of an adjustable die-block holder, in which the heated die-block is placed to receive the blow of the hammer or patrice. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof on the line 00 m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan of a platform and cover within which the metal block is placed to be heated preparatory to placing it in the said die-block holder. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 1 y, Fig. 3, showing the said platform and cover with the block and an inner cap inclosed.

Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawings.

Inpreparing'a steel block to be heated I place over the face of the same a metal or other cap, a, formed to fit the said face closely. The block so protected is then placed on a metal or other platform or plate, I), and a cover, 0, e11- tirely inclosing the steel block, with the cap a thereon, is placed over the same, the face of the block being thus doubly covered and protected from oxidation. The whole, so arranged, is then placed in a furnace or oven. When the block has been heated to the required degree, it is taken from the fire and the outside cover,

0, is removed. The hot steel block is then placed on the base of the adjustable swage d, resting 011 the anvil of a suitable hammer. This swage is formed with a strong base, d, with two fixed metal sides, (1 between which is the space or groove wherein the heated block is placed to receive the blow of the ha1nmer, the block being inserted by sliding it endwise into the said space. At the ends of this space or groove are arranged the adjustable slides e, which, when the heated block is introduced into the said space, are pushed against the ends of the said block, and held in place by keys or wedges f, driven transversely across the swage in slots or grooves at the end of the same. Each of the said slides has a shoulder, 0, against which the key f works and bears, thereby giving a firm support to the slide and holding it firmly in place against the heated die-block.

It is obvious that different-sized blocks may be secured between said slides by driving the wedges a corresponding distance through the grooves or slots in which they are fitted. Moreover, if necessary,packing-pieces may be inserted between the said. keys or wedges and the shoulders of the slides. I

It is obvious that this die-block holder must be placed in such a position under the hammer that any pattern or form constituting the patri cc and previously fixed on the face ofthe hammer, when the hammer descends, will strike the face of the hot steel block centrally. The heated block having been placed in the die block holder, as aforesaid, the inner cap, a, which has, till now, remained on its face to protect the same from oxidation, just as the hammer is falling, is jerked off, and the form or pattern is driven into the face of the hot metal block with the full force of the hammer.

By reason of the extreme facility with which large blocks of steel may be manipulated and worked in the manner above described, the aforesaid adjustable die-block holder is most advantageously adapted to the making of dies of large dimensions for silver-ware and thelike. By using the adjustable slides I am enabled to treat metal blocks of many different shapes and sizes with one set of tools by changing the position of the before-mentioned slide. Moreover, when using my improved die-block holder, it is not necessary to fit the metal block to the tools with such exactitude as is necessary with the tools heretofore employed, as the said die-block holder can readily be adjusted to fit the block.

WVhat I claim is 1. In the manufacture of dies, the hereiir described process of protecting the die-block from oxidation, consisting in applying to the die-block a closely-fitting cap, covering said block and cap with an air-tight case or hood, and exposing the whole to the heat required,

' the cap being retained upon the face of the die-block during its removal from the hood, and until the said die-block is about to receive the desired impression, substantially as described.

2. For the manufacture of dies, the usej ointly of a cap adapted to closely cover the upper portion of the die-block, the supportingplate b, and the hood 0, forming an air-tight chamber for holding the diebloek while the same is be ing heated, substantially as described.

3. The dieblock holder consisting of abase, (1, having stationary sides (1 the adjustable end pieces, 0, having projections 6, (said sides and end pieces forming between them a dieblock space,) and the wedges f, for holding the end pieces, 0, in place, substantially as de scribed.

4. The die-block holder consisting of abase, (1, having stationary sides (1 and die-block space between the same, the adjustable end pieces, 0, having projections e, and the wedges f, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE F. OHAMPNEY.

\Vitnesses J. T. KNowLns,

)rrAs. BLENcowE, Jr. 

